Peter Crouch’srobot dance has been captured in a figure for Subbuteo. MB Games, maker of the table football game, hopes to release it in time for the World Cup. A spokesman said: ‘We’re working flat out to get the Crouchbop figure out.’ Meanwhile, it has emerged that 6ft 7in Crouch was nicknamed Rodney – after the Only Fools And Horses character – when he was at nonleague side Dulwich Hamlet. His old coach Dave Garland said: ‘When he stood up in the dressing room, he kept going. He was a beanpole.’

Birminghamwill stage its own football tournament during the World Cup – on a specially-built beach. A full-size international beach soccer arena is being constructed in the city centre for a contest featuring the best players from across Europe. However, for those who prefer their football played on grass, there will be a large Astroturf area for fans to watch live action from Germany, courtesy of mobile phone giant T-Mobile.

Apub chainwhich reckons drinkers lose an average of a quarter of a pint through overexcitement during matches will hand out special lids for glasses. The gadgets are been designed to fit exactly over the rim of a glass and help prevent pints being spilled. Jenny Hipkiss, marketing director of sports pub chain Q’s, said: ‘It saves our customers money and saves our floors.’ The company estimates 1.3million pints at a cost of £3.3million will be knocked from glasses during the competition.

An unofficicialEngland World Cupsong has become the cheapest download sold in Britain. Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Jurgen Klinsmann? by the Tonedef Allstars costs 20p on Tesco.com. The novelty song is set to the Dad’s Army theme and features 1966 heroes Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, as well as former boxer Frank Bruno and veteran actor Bill Pertwee – who played ARP warden Hodges in the cult TV show.